President urges greater judicial reform

President Truong Tan Sang has asked judicial agencies to study and comment on the draft of the revised 1992 Constitution as well as the judicial reform.

President Truong Tan Sang addresses the session. (Photo: VNA)

Sang, who is also Head of the Central Steering Committee for Judicial Reform (CSCJR), made the request at the 9th session of the committee in Hanoi on January 24.

The CSCJR, ministries, agencies and localities should intensify the inspection and supervision of their judicial reform-related tasks, he said.

According to the State leader, judicial reform in 2012 saw many positive changes. Significant judicial reform projects and bills were created and appraised, while the organisation, operation and authority of judicial agencies were finalised, he said.

However, he pointed out that the reform remains inefficient in some sectors and a number of judicial reform-related projects are still inadequate, failing to meet requirements.

At the session, the CSCJR emphasised its key tasks for 2013, which focus on completing policies and laws that institutionalise the Party’s guidelines and orientations on judicial reform.

The committee will collect public opinions on the amendments to the 1992 Constitution and continue building detailed projects to renovate the organisation and operation of the People’s Procuracy, People’s Court and investigation agencies, as well as create favourable conditions for people working with judicial agencies.

Paris Agreement signing marked in France

The Vietnamese embassy in France held a meeting on January 24 marking the 40th anniversary of the 1973 Paris Agreement.

The agreement was signed in Paris on January 27, 1973, putting an end to the US-waged war and restoring peace in Vietnam.

Addressing the function, Ambassador Duong Chi Dung noted that the signing of the historical document was a milestone in the Vietnamese people’s glorious struggle for national liberation and independence.

The event forced the US to recognize Vietnam’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and withdraw its troops from South Vietnam, leading to national unification in April 1975, Dung stressed.

He said the Party, State and people of Vietnam bear in their minds the whole-hearted support provided by international friends and peace-loving people around the world, including members of the French Communist Party, French people and Vietnamese nationals in France.

Among attendees were Jean Noel Poirier, French ambassador to Vietnam, Pierre Laurent, Secretary of the French Communist Party, leaders of Choisy-Le-Roi and Verrieres-Le-Buisson cities where two Vietnamese negotiation delegations were staying between 1968 and 1973, and representatives of friendship and solidarity organizations with Vietnam.

Representatives of the French Communist Party and the two French cities showed their strong solidarity with Vietnam, stressing that the victory of the war more than 40 years ago greatly supported the national liberation movement around the world, for the sake of freedom and peace.

On this occasion, the embassy organized a photo exhibition featuring activities of the two Vietnamese negotiation delegations, as well as articles published on local newspapers which highlighted Vietnam’s constant struggle on the political, military and diplomatic fronts.

Vietnam, Singapore boost defence ties

A delegation from the Defence Ministry led by Deputy Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Cung is visiting Singapore from January 24-27 to study judicial reform in the army.

On the first day of the visit, the delegation had a working session with senior officers of the Military Court of Appeal of the Singapore Armed Forces, during which the two sides shared their experiences in military judicial activities.

Cung hailed the operational model of Singapore’s military court system, saying that it is organised in an ordered and scientific way that ensures fairness and objectiveness.

He said that sharing experiences will be very useful to the Vietnamese Defence Ministry’s judicial reform.

India’s Republic Day celebrated in HCM City

The 63 rd anniversary of Republic Day of India (26/01/1950-26/01/2013) was marked by the Union of Friendship Organisations and the HCM City chapter of the Vietnam-India Friendship Association on January 24.

The anniversary attracted the participation of Ho Chi Minh City’s leaders, Indian Consul General in HCM City Abhay Thakur, the Indian community and enterprises.

During the event, President of the HCM City Chapter of the Vietnam-India Friendship Association Huynh Thanh Lap said Vietnamese people appreciated India’s assistance and support, and the close relations between the two countries, particularly after the establishment of the Vietnam-India strategic partnership in 2007.

Two-way trade turnover is expected to reach seven billion USD in 2015.

Thakur expressed his gratitude to Vietnamese people’s friendship towards Indian people. In the coming time, more cultural, education and trade activities will be organised to promote bilateral ties.

VNN/VOV/VNA